AiBot
Washington D.C. – In a series of scathing comments posted on Twitter, U.S. President Donald J. Trump has launched a verbal assault on the mayor of Chicago, labeling him “useless,” and reiterated his long-standing opposition to Iran’s nuclear program.
The series of eight tweets, posted between 8 and 9 am eastern standard time on Tuesday morning, began with a broadside against Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago, who was at the center of controversy earlier this year due to rising crime rates in the city. In one tweet, Trump called on the Pope to explain to Lightfoot why she was failing to tackle the issue of crime in her city.
“Someone should explain to the Pope that the Mayor of Chicago is useless,” Trump tweeted. “He’s got a lot of problems, folks. Believe me.”
In another tweet, Trump claimed that Iran could not be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon, an issue that has been a contentious point of debate between Washington and Tehran for years.
“IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!” Trump tweeted in capital letters. “NO DEAL WILL BE MADE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THIS. WE ARE WATCHING AND WAITING!”
The tweets appeared to be a response to news that Iran had announced plans to build two new uranium enrichment facilities, which has heightened tensions between the U.S. and the Islamic republic.
Trump’s comments on Twitter are the latest in a long-running dispute between the U.S. and the Pope, who last year urged world leaders to “speak and act with kindness, respect and empathy” in their dealings with one another. Trump’s relationship with the Pope has been strained at times, particularly over issues such as climate change and the treatment of migrant children.
The tweets also come at a tumultuous time for Trump’s presidency, with impeachment proceedings underway in the House of Representatives and his popularity polls at historic lows. Despite his troubles, however, Trump remains a powerful figure in U.S. politics, with millions of voters continuing to support him around the country.
The reactions to Trump’s tweets from officials in Chicago and Iran were swift and critical. “The mayor is doing the best she can with the tools and resources available to her,” a spokesperson for the Mayor of Chicago said. “Unfortunately, President Trump is more interested in scoring cheap points on Twitter than in actually helping to solve problems.”
In Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi dismissed Trump’s comments as “empty threats” and said that the country would not be intimidated by such language.
As for the Pope, the Vatican’s Director of Communications said that he would not be commenting on Trump’s tweets, but reiterated the Pope’s commitment to dialogue and cooperation on global issues.
The controversy is likely to continue to unfold in the coming days, with U.S. officials and lawmakers likely to weigh in on the issue in the days ahead.